Hi Rob, very interesting as I am currently working on something similar going through the sources. Just one question: Isn't the colored shape at 8:00 (vs. 3 opponents) again a 1 on 1? The little shape right below it is the 3 on 1.
Good eye. But this is the downside of trying to depict a dynamic environment with a static image. Technically speaking, yes, you are correct in that not all three could reach you--but only if all three stay exactly where they are. The shaded area in this graphic represents the 3 on 1 fight area that factors in all the additional variables encountered that allows the additional two fencers to either side to reach you. This includes use of the small step advance, the lunge that drags the back foot forward, the use of the ballestra, passing step forward, jump lunge (see other video on this topic), and other maneuvers that allow for attacks in this area. The bullet shape below the shaded area is indeed a "static" 3 on 1 fight area where everyone can reach you without having to move. I do not even bother addressing this, however, because if you ever got that close to your middle opponent while all three opponents are still active you have (in all likelihood) committed suicide. Attacking to the outside of the shaded 3 on 1 area eliminates those additional movement variables for whichever fencer you moved away from. Meaning, for example, attacking toward the left side of the shaded 3 on 1 area (to fight the middle and left side fencers) eliminates maneuver options for the far right fencer due to both the increased distance you created as well as the obstacle of the middle fencer. The line either has to pivot to allow the far right fencer back into the action or that far right fencer has to break the line. In either case, it takes time, and your 1-2 second duel with your true target/s has passed. I hope this helps clarify for you and I apologize if it does not. Trying to explain this topic in the written word rather than face-to-face with additional fencers to help show the progression of the action is not an easy thing, to say the least. The long explanation short: the shaded area here represents an area all three fencers can touch.
Good one as always :) On the other hand, fighting as a team effectively also requires training but way less than we need to be able to fight against multiple opponents. I think that’s what separates a group of professional solders and a group of bandits 🤣
It is an absolute certainty (at least in my experience) that fighting a group of swordsmen who have trained as a team is considerably more challenging than those who have not. It is also my experience that those who team up are typically those who did it in the moment and have no such training.
@@RobertChildsRapier context is key here. And when fighting against opponents that doesn’t have this kind of training, most of time we don’t need to finish all of them. We’ve played a 1 montante vs 3 single swords game before. The funny thing is after we start betting with real money, no one is willing to sacrifice for the team anymore, and that makes it even easier to create 1v1 situations
I've never tried sparring more than 2 people at once (and that was in longsword, therefore no offhand weapon) but it seems that this is the one situation where videogame tactics translate literally (just with a higher skill ceiling for execution, obviously)
I can tell you this kind of combat has always been a favorite precisely because of the difficulty and tactics that must be employed to be successful. Hardest type of combat and definitely the most fun.
awesome
Hi Rob, very interesting as I am currently working on something similar going through the sources. Just one question: Isn't the colored shape at 8:00 (vs. 3 opponents) again a 1 on 1? The little shape right below it is the 3 on 1.
Good eye. But this is the downside of trying to depict a dynamic environment with a static image. Technically speaking, yes, you are correct in that not all three could reach you--but only if all three stay exactly where they are. The shaded area in this graphic represents the 3 on 1 fight area that factors in all the additional variables encountered that allows the additional two fencers to either side to reach you. This includes use of the small step advance, the lunge that drags the back foot forward, the use of the ballestra, passing step forward, jump lunge (see other video on this topic), and other maneuvers that allow for attacks in this area. The bullet shape below the shaded area is indeed a "static" 3 on 1 fight area where everyone can reach you without having to move. I do not even bother addressing this, however, because if you ever got that close to your middle opponent while all three opponents are still active you have (in all likelihood) committed suicide.
Attacking to the outside of the shaded 3 on 1 area eliminates those additional movement variables for whichever fencer you moved away from. Meaning, for example, attacking toward the left side of the shaded 3 on 1 area (to fight the middle and left side fencers) eliminates maneuver options for the far right fencer due to both the increased distance you created as well as the obstacle of the middle fencer. The line either has to pivot to allow the far right fencer back into the action or that far right fencer has to break the line. In either case, it takes time, and your 1-2 second duel with your true target/s has passed.
I hope this helps clarify for you and I apologize if it does not. Trying to explain this topic in the written word rather than face-to-face with additional fencers to help show the progression of the action is not an easy thing, to say the least.
The long explanation short: the shaded area here represents an area all three fencers can touch.
Good one as always :)
On the other hand, fighting as a team effectively also requires training but way less than we need to be able to fight against multiple opponents. I think that’s what separates a group of professional solders and a group of bandits 🤣
It is an absolute certainty (at least in my experience) that fighting a group of swordsmen who have trained as a team is considerably more challenging than those who have not. It is also my experience that those who team up are typically those who did it in the moment and have no such training.
@@RobertChildsRapier context is key here.
And when fighting against opponents that doesn’t have this kind of training, most of time we don’t need to finish all of them.
We’ve played a 1 montante vs 3 single swords game before. The funny thing is after we start betting with real money, no one is willing to sacrifice for the team anymore, and that makes it even easier to create 1v1 situations
@@user-vp8gi8iy7n What do you mean, "don't need to finish all of them"? Where is the fun in that? :)
I've never tried sparring more than 2 people at once (and that was in longsword, therefore no offhand weapon) but it seems that this is the one situation where videogame tactics translate literally (just with a higher skill ceiling for execution, obviously)
I can tell you this kind of combat has always been a favorite precisely because of the difficulty and tactics that must be employed to be successful. Hardest type of combat and definitely the most fun.
💐 Promo`SM.